Hold the attention of (6)
I believe the answer is:
engage
'hold the attention of' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for engage that I've seen before include "Take on (eg for work, in battle)" , "Become bound; attract" , "Take into employment or occupy attention" , "Take on, hire" , "Recruit" .)